GREAT NECK, NY (October 14, 2014) – On an uncharacteristically warm Sunday in September, teams of runners traversed the length of Long Island in the annual Ocean to Sound 50 Mile Relay. Four of those teams consisted of runners from Step By Step, a nonprofit corporation, which raises money to fight cancer through providing endurance training programs for runners, walkers, cyclists, swimmers and triathletes. Step By Step’s ranks were bolstered this year by runners from the North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute, who Step By Step has selected as the exclusive beneficiary.
Joe Bencivenga, Founder and President of Step By Step, said, "We chose to partner with the North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute for many reasons. North Shore-LIJ is a prestigious healthcare system with hospital affiliates across Long Island, and at Step By Step, we like raising support for organizations on Long Island.” “More importantly,” continued Bencivenga, “we recognize that North Shore-LIJ continues to build a world-class cancer program and our donations are going to expedite the research needed at the highest level.”
“Through this new partnership, Step By Step’s support of the North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute will make a tremendous difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families,” said Louis Potters, MD, Co-Executive Director, North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute and Chair of Radiation Medicine. “With modern technologies and new advances in cancer genetics, cancer vaccines, surgical and imaging techniques, and targeted therapeutics, the promise of safer, more effective cancer treatments and cures has never been more in sight. Step By Step shares our relentless commitment to innovation and to accelerating new breakthroughs, so that this promise becomes a reality.”
In exchange for endurance training, runners have fundraising goals for each event they participate in. This year, the team ran the Long Island Marathon in May, the Ocean to Sound Relay in September and on November 6, Step By Step will be holding their end of year benefit honoring two of North Shore-LIJ’s most prominent physicians in the pediatric cancer field: Mark Atlas, MD, Chief, Childhood Brain and Spinal Cord Tumor Program and Mark Mittler, MD, Co-Director, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery. All the money raised at this year’s benefit, the Ocean to Sound Relay, and other races from this past year, will support pediatric brain cancer research. Each year, the organization will join with the North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute to select a different form of cancer to highlight and support. Information on attending the gala can be found on the Step By Step website.